Is Qur'an Biased Towards Men? Divine Justice & Patriarchy with Dr Asma Barlas | Thinking Islam Ep.6

In this episode of Thinking Islam, Dr. Asma Barlas joins us to interrogate whether God, described as supremely just in the Qur’an, could be seen as biased towards men. With verses like qiwamah and the so-called “wife beating” verse, does the Qur’an truly promote equality and egalitarian ideals, or does it embed a vision of hierarchy and male-dominance? We explore how anti-patriarchal readings of the Qur’an challenge dominant interpretations, reexamine controversial passages, and ask what it means to practice critical scholarship while navigating the realities of the Muslim community.

This wide-ranging conversation delves into the heart of Dr. Barlas’s influential book, "Believing Women in Islam," unpacking her approach to Qur'anic exegesis, her critiques of both traditionalist and secular-feminist readings, and her arguments for divine justice and mutual guardianship in Qur’anic gender discourse. Together, we reflect on the historical legacy of patriarchy in Islamic interpretation, the distinct difference between biblical and Qur’anic accounts of Abraham, and rethinking family structures and gender roles in light of the Qur’an’s holistic teachings. Our discussion journeys through scholarly debates, personal experiences of dissent within the Muslim community, and the challenges of staying faithful to both faith and reason.

Dr. Asma Barlas is a renowned scholar of Islamic intellectual history, Qur’anic hermeneutics, and gender politics. She is the author of the landmark work "Believing Women in Islam: Unreading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Qur’an," which argues for the anti-patriarchal essence of the Qur’an and continues to shape contemporary conversations about gender, faith, and justice.

🔵 Video Chapters:

0:00 – Highlights
1:35 – Introduction
9:49 – Challenging the Dominant Interpretation
13:45 – Male Domination in Islamic Studies
18:52 – Generational Change in Understanding the Qur’an
23:34 – Quranic Ibrahim vs Biblical Abraham
28:55 – Is the Qur’an Anti-Patriarchal and Egalitarian?
33:18 – Gender Hierarchy in the Qur’an
36:32 – Patriarchy in Islamic History
43:08 – You’re Not Al-Ghazali!
49:32 – Maududi’s View on Women
51:03 – Patriarchy as an Imprint of the Prophet on the Qur’an?
54:28 – Critique of Secular Feminists
1:01:48 – Men In-Charge and Family Structures in Islam
1:07:50 – Where Did It All Start?
1:13:05 – Thinking Islam Question


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